Image forming device, control method of image forming device, program for achieving control method, and storage medium for storing program

ABSTRACT

An image forming device comprises: an image forming unit adapted to execute image formation on a recording medium; and a writing unit adapted to be able to execute at least an information writing operation in a non-contact manner to a non-contact IC added to the recording medium. It is controlled whether or not the image forming unit should execute the image formation on the recording medium, according to a result of the information writing operation executed by the writing unit to the non-contact IC added to the recording medium.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to an image forming device for forming animage on a recording medium, a control method of the image formingdevice, a program for achieving the control program, and a storagemedium for storing the program.

BACKGROUND ART

In recent years, the printer which executes printing on a paper withnon-contact IC (integrated circuit) chip (that is, the paper on whichthe non-contact IC chip is embedded) is proposed in, for example,Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2000-337426. Here, it shouldbe noted that “IC chip” can be also called “IC” simply. Morespecifically, in a case where the printing on the paper with non-contactIC chip is executed, the printer writes information to a non-contact ICchip which has been embedded on the paper with non-contact IC chip.Besides, the printer executes the printing on the basis of theinformation held in the non-contact IC chip embedded in the paper withnon-contact IC chip. Incidentally, it should be noted that thenon-contact IC chip is also called a non-contact IC tag or a non-contactIC and is used in the RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) technology.

In the printer which writes the information to the non-contact IC chipin case of the printing to the paper with non-contact IC chip, if theimage data input to the printer includes the information to be writtento the non-contact IC chip, the relevant information is written to thenon-contact IC chip and also the printing based on the input image datais executed on the paper with non-contact IC chip.

In Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2000-337426, if the paperwith non-contact IC chip to be fed to the printer runs out, theinformation to be written to the non-contact IC chip on the paper withnon-contact IC chip is transformed into a QR (quick response) code, andthe acquired QR code as well as the input image data is printed on anordinary paper (that is, the paper on which there is no non-contact ICchip) instead of the paper with non-contact IC chip.

In addition, the technology that, if the information was not able to bewritten to the non-contact IC chip on the paper with non-contact ICchip, the previous content is printed on a next paper with non-contactIC chip and also the relevant information is written to the non-contactIC chip on the next paper with non-contact IC chip is proposed in, forexample, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2003-288557.

As described above, in the case where the QR code is printed on theordinary paper together with the input image data if the paper withnon-contact IC chip runs out, it is possible to compensate a lack of theinformation by printing the QR code on the ordinary paper. However, inthat case, for example, there is a possibility that the paper withnon-contact IC chip on which the writing of the information to thenon-contact IC chip was failed is output. As a result, the output paperwith non-contact IC chip is short of the information to be written tothe non-contact IC chip under normal conditions.

Moreover, in a case where the information was not able to be written inthe non-contact IC chip on the paper with non-contact IC chip, if thetechnology of printing the previous content on the next paper withnon-contact IC chip and also writing the previous information to thenon-contact IC chip on the next paper with non-contact IC chip is used,it is possible to acquire the predetermined number of papers withnon-contact IC chip on which the writing of the information to thenon-contact IC chip succeeded. However, in that case, the sheaf of thepapers with non-contact IC chip mixedly includes the papers withnon-contact IC chip on which the writing of the information to thenon-contact IC chip succeeded and the papers with non-contact IC chip onwhich the writing of the information to the non-contact IC chip did notsucceed (or the writing of the information to the non-contact IC chipfailed). For this reason, the user has to appropriately sort in therelevant sheaf the papers with non-contact IC chip on which the writingof the information to the non-contact IC chip succeeded from the paperswith non-contact IC chip on which the writing of the information to thenon-contact IC chip failed.

Moreover, it is generally needless or useless to execute the imageformation to the papers with non-contact IC chip on which thewriting/reading to/from the non-contact IC chip failed. For this reason,it is necessary not to execute such needless image formation.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, the present invention is conceived in response to the abovedisadvantages of the conventional art.

For example, by the image forming device and the control method thereofaccording to the present invention, it is possible to discriminatinglyoutput a recording medium with non-contact IC chip on which the writingor the reading of information to or from a non-contact IC chip succeededand a recording medium with non-contact IC chip on which the writing orthe reading of information to or from a non-contact IC chip failed.

Moreover, for example, by the image forming device and the controlmethod thereof according to the present invention, it is possible not toexecute image formation to the recording medium with non-contact IC chipon which the writing or the reading of the information to or from thenon-contact IC chip failed.

An object of the present invention is to provide an image forming devicecomprising:

an image forming unit adapted to execute image formation on a recordingmedium;

a writing unit adapted to be able to execute at least an informationwriting operation in a non-contact manner to a non-contact IC added tothe recording medium; and

a control unit adapted to control whether or not the image forming unitshould execute the image formation on the recording medium, according toa result of the information writing operation executed by the writingunit to the non-contact IC added to the recording medium.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an image formingdevice comprising:

an image forming unit adapted to execute image formation on a recordingmedium;

a writing unit adapted to execute an information writing operation in anon-contact manner with respect to a non-contact IC added to therecording medium; and

a control unit adapted to control to change the image formation by saidimage forming unit according to whether or not said writing unitcorrectly executed the information writing operation with respect to thenon-contact IC added to the recording medium.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide an imageforming device comprising:

an image forming unit adapted to execute image formation on a recordingmedium;

a reading unit adapted to execute an information reading operation in anon-contact manner with respect to a non-contact IC added to therecording medium; and

a control unit adapted to control to change the image formation by saidimage forming unit according to whether or not said reading unitcorrectly executed the information reading operation from thenon-contact IC added to the recording medium.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a controlmethod for an image forming device which comprises a writing unitadapted to execute an information writing operation in a non-contactmanner with respect to a recording medium to which a non-contact IC hasbeen added, and executes image formation on the recording medium, saidmethod comprising:

a writing step of causing the writing unit to execute the informationwriting operation with respect to the non-contact IC added to therecording medium; and

a control step of controlling to change the image formation according towhether or not the information writing operation was correctly executedwith respect to the non-contact IC in said writing step.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a controlmethod for an image forming device which comprises a reading unitadapted to execute at least an information reading operation in anon-contact manner with respect to a recording medium to which anon-contact IC has been added, and executes image formation on therecording medium, said method comprising:

a reading step of causing the reading unit to execute the informationreading operation from the non-contact IC added to the recording medium;and

a control step of controlling to change the image formation according towhether or not the information reading operation was correctly executedfrom the non-contact IC in said reading step.

Moreover, a computer program which is used to cause a computer toexecute the control method of the image forming device and acomputer-readable storage medium which stores therein the computerprogram for causing the computer to execute the control method of theimage forming device are provided.

According to the present invention, it is possible to discriminatinglyoutput the recording medium with non-contact IC chip on which thewriting or the reading of the information to or from the non-contact ICchip succeeded and the recording medium with non-contact IC chip onwhich the writing or the reading of the information to or from thenon-contact IC chip failed.

Moreover, by not executing the image formation to the recording mediumwith non-contact IC chip on which the writing or the reading of theinformation to or from the non-contact IC chip failed, it is possible toprevent from executing the needless or useless image formation.

The above and other objects and characteristics of the present inventionwill become apparent from the following detailed description taken inconjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the constitution of the image formingdevice according to the first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view showing the constitutions of areader unit 103 and a printer unit 104 both shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a plan view showing the key configuration of an operation unit102 shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a plan view showing the constitution of the paper withnon-contact IC chip;

FIG. 5 is a flow chart showing the control procedure of the copy mode inwhich the IC chip writing mode of a digital copying machine 101 shown inFIG. 1 is designated;

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of the IC chip writing prioritymode selection screen to be displayed on a touch panel 316 of theoperation unit 102 shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of the faulty IC chip paperdischarge destination tray selection screen to be displayed when the ICchip writing priority mode is selected on the IC chip writing prioritymode selection screen shown in FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a flow chart showing the control procedure of the double-sidedcopy mode in which the IC chip writing mode in the image forming deviceaccording to the second embodiment of the present invention isdesignated;

FIG. 9 is a flow chart showing the control procedure of the double-sidedcopy mode in which the IC chip writing mode in the image forming deviceaccording to the second embodiment of the present invention isdesignated;

FIG. 10 is a flow chart showing the control procedure of the copy modein which the IC chip reading mode in the image forming device accordingto the third embodiment of the present invention is designated; and

FIG. 11 is a flow chart showing the control procedure of the copy modein which the IC chip reading mode in the image forming device accordingto the third embodiment of the present invention is designated.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

Hereinafter, the embodiments of the present invention will be explainedwith reference to the attached drawings.

First Embodiment

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the constitution of the image formingdevice according to the first embodiment of the present invention. Inthe present embodiment, the digital copying machine 101 will beexplained as the image forming device.

That is, as shown in FIG. 1, the digital copying machine 101 is equippedwith the operation unit 102, the reader unit 103, the printer unit 104,a modem unit 105, a network I/F (interface) unit 106, a hard disk 107, acontrol unit 108 and an IC chip reader/writer 109.

The operation unit 102 is used to operate and handle the digital copyingmachine 101, the reader unit 103 reads an original on an original andoutputs the thus acquired image data to the control unit 108, and theprinter unit 104 prints on a paper the image based on the image datatransferred from the control unit 108. Here, it should be noted that, asthe paper to which the image is printed, it is possible to use eitherthe paper with non-contact IC chip on which the non-contact IC chipfrom/to which the information can be read/written has been embedded andthe ordinary paper on which the non-contact IC chip is not embedded.

The modem unit 105 expands the facsimile data received through atelephone circuit 113 and transfers the expanded data to the controlunit 108. Also, the modem unit 105 compresses the image data transferredfrom the control unit 108 and transmits the compressed data as thefacsimile data through the telephone circuit 113. Here, the facsimiledata received by the modem unit 105 can be temporarily stored in thehard disk 107.

The network I/F unit 106 which interfaces with a LAN (local areanetwork) 112 controls the communication with the devices such as a PC(personal computer) 110, a server 111 and the like. Moreover, thenetwork I/F unit 106 outputs the image data transferred from the PC 110or the server 111 through the LAN 112 to the control unit 108. Besides,the network I/F unit 106 transfers the image data and the control codeto the PC 110 or the server 111 in response to the indication issuedfrom the control unit 108.

The hard disk 107 is the storage device which stores the image data.Here, if the order of reading of the image data from the hard disk 107is changed, it is possible to change the print output order. Moreover,if the plural copies of the same image are output, the same image datais read from the hard disk 107 plural times. Besides, if it takes a longtime for the transfer of the data as in the facsimile transmission orthe facsimile reception, it is possible to temporarily store in the harddisk 107 the PDL (page description language) extraction data and theimage data acquired by the reader unit 103.

The control unit 108 is equipped with a CPU (central processing unit)108 a, a RAM (random access memory) 108 b, a ROM (read only memory) 108c and an SRAM (static random access memory) 108 d. Here, the CPU 108 atotally controls the digital copying machine 101 by executing theprograms stored in the ROM 108 c. Moreover, the CPU 108 a controls thedata flows among the reader unit 103, the printer unit 104, the modemunit 105, the network I/F unit 106 and the hard disk 107.

The IC chip reader/writer 109 which is originally provided in theprinter unit 104 reads in a non-contact manner the information stored inthe non-contact IC chip on the paper with non-contact IC chip, and thentransfers the read information to the control unit 108. Also, the ICchip reader/writer 109 can write in a non-contact manner the informationtransferred from the control unit 108 to the non-contact IC chip on thepaper with non-contact IC chip.

Next, the constitutions of the reader unit 103 and the printer unit 104will be explained with reference to FIG. 2. More specifically, FIG. 2 isthe longitudinal sectional view showing the constitutions of the readerunit 103 and the printer unit 104 both shown in FIG. 1.

As shown in FIG. 2, the reader unit 103 and the printer unit 104 areintegrally constituted. More specifically, in FIG. 2, a document feeder201 which is mounted on the reader unit 103 feeds one by one theoriginals (documents) from the last page thereof onto a platen glass202. Then, if the reading operation to the fed original put on theplaten glass 202 ends, the document feeder 201 discharges the relevantoriginal from the platen glass 202.

In any case, if the original is fed and put on the platen glass 202, alamp 203 lights, and a scanner unit 204 starts to move, whereby theoriginal is exposed and scanned. At that time, the reflection lightacquired from the original is guided to a CCD (charge coupled device)image sensor 209 (simply called CCD 209 hereinafter) by mirrors 205, 206and 207 and a lens 208.

Subsequently, the image on the thus scanned original is read by the CCD209, the image data output from the CCD 209 is subjected to thepredetermined process, and the processed image data is then transferredto the printer unit 104 or the network I/F unit 106 through the controlunit 108.

The printer unit 104 comprises a laser beam generation unit 210 and alaser driver 221. Here, the laser driver 221 drives the laser beamgeneration unit 210 to generate a laser beam according to the image dataoutput from the reader unit 103. Then, the generated laser beam isirradiated to a photosensitive drum 211, whereby the latent imageaccording to the irradiated laser beam is formed on the photosensitivedrum 211. Incidentally, a developing unit 212, a transfer unit 215 and acleaner 222 are arranged in the vicinity of the photosensitive drum 211.Here, the developing unit 212 supplies the toner to the latent imageformed on the photosensitive drum 211 so as to visualize the latentimage as the toner image, the transfer unit 215 transfers the tonerimage on the photosensitive drum 211 to a fed paper, and the cleaner 222collects the residual toner on the photosensitive drum 211. Moreover, anescape tray 224 to which the paper to which image formation is not yetexecuted is discharged is provided in the printer unit 104.

Here, it should be noted that the paper with non-contact IC chip (thatis, the paper to which the non-contact IC chip has been added oradhered) or the ordinary paper (that is, the paper on which there is nonon-contact IC chip) is used as the paper, and the papers are suppliedfrom either one of a paper feeding cassette 213 and a paper feedingcassette 214. In the present embodiment, it is assumed that the paperswith non-contact IC chip are fed from each of the paper feedingcassettes 213 and 214, and it is also assumed that “paper” implies“paper with non-contact IC chip” as long as there is no specific note.

The leading edge of the paper fed from the paper feeding cassette 213 or214 is first bumped against registration rollers 223 and thus stopped.Then, the once-stopped paper is transported to the location between thephotosensitive drum 211 and the transfer unit 215 at predeterminedtiming. Incidentally, an IC chip reader/writer 109 which executesinformation writing/reading to/from the non-contact IC chip on the paperin a non-contact manner is provided before the registration rollers 223.Here, it should be noted that the IC chip reader/writer 109 is disposedto be able to execute wireless communication with the non-contact ICchip on the paper once stopped at the registration rollers 223, wherebythe IC chip reader/writer 109 executes the information writing orreading operation with respect to the non-contact IC chip on the paperat the timing when the paper is once stopped at the registration rollers223.

Then, the toner image on the photosensitive drum 211 is transferred bythe transfer unit 215 to the paper transported to the location betweenthe photosensitive drum 211 and the transfer unit 215, and the paper onwhich the toner image has been transferred is further transported to afixing unit 216. Thus, in the fixing unit 216, the toner image on thepaper is hot-pressed, whereby the toner image is fixed onto the paper.

Subsequently, the paper passed the fixing unit 216 is transported to afinisher 220 by discharge rollers 217. Here, it should be noted that thefinisher 220 sorts the transported papers, executes the sheet (paper)processes such as the stapling of the sorted papers and the like, andthen discharges the processed papers to trays A, B and C respectively.

Incidentally, in a case where the double-sided printing is set, afterthe paper was once transported to the discharge rollers 217, each of thedischarge rollers 217 is reversed, whereby the paper is guided to apaper re-feeding transportation path 219 by the operation of a flapper218.

Moreover, in a case where the multiple printing is set, the paper passedthe fixing unit 216 is not transported up to the discharge rollers 217but is guided to the paper re-feeding transportation path 219 by theoperation of the flapper 218.

Then, as well as the above, the paper guided to the paper re-feedingtransportation path 219 is once stopped at the registration rollers 223,and the once-stopped paper is then transported to the location betweenthe photosensitive drum 211 and the transfer unit 215.

Subsequently, the operation unit 102 will be explained with reference toFIG. 3. That is, FIG. 3 is the plan view showing the key configurationof the operation unit 102 shown in FIG. 1.

As shown in FIG. 3, a main power source lamp 301, a preheating key 302,a copy mode key 303, a facsimile mode key 304, a box key 305, a copystart key 306, a stop key 307, a reset key 308, a guide key 309, a usermode key 310, an interruption key 311, numerical keys 312, a clear key313, plural one-touch dialing keys 314, two sets of tabs 315, and atouch panel 316 are provided on the operation unit 102. Morespecifically, the main power source lamp 301 lights up in the case wherethe power is being supplied to the main body of the digital copyingmachine 101, and the preheating key 302 is depressed to turn on and offthe preheating mode. Further, the copy mode key 303 is depressed toselect the copy mode, the facsimile mode key 304 is depressed to selectthe facsimile mode, and the box key 305 is depressed to select the boxmode. Moreover, the copy start key 306 is depressed to indicate the copystart, and the stop key 307 is depressed to interrupt or stop the copyoperation. The user mode key 310 is depressed when the user intends tochange the basic setting of the system. Besides, the two sets of tabs315 function to allocate the operations respectively corresponding tothe one-touch dialing keys 314 in accordance with the combinations ofthe opened and closed states of the tabs, and the touch panel 316 iscomposed of the combination of the liquid crystal display and the touchsensor. Incidentally, on the touch panel 316, the individual settingscreen is displayed with respect to each mode. Moreover, the varioussoftware keys for executing various detailed settings are also displayedon the touch panel 316.

Subsequently, the paper with non-contact IC chip will be explained withreference to FIG. 4. That is, FIG. 4 is the plan view showing theconstitution of the paper with non-contact IC chip.

As shown in FIG. 4, the paper with non-contact IC chip is composed of apaper 401 such as a plain paper or the like, and a non-contact IC chip402 which has been embedded in the paper 401. More specifically, thenon-contact IC chip 402 comprises an antenna portion (not shown) and amemory portion (not shown). Thus, when the radio wave (or electric wave)of the predetermined frequency is received from the IC chipreader/writer 109, the antenna portion of the non-contact IC chip 402produces the induced electromotive force. By using such produced power,the non-contact IC chip 402 transmits/receives the data to/from the ICchip reader/writer 109, and also reads/writes the data from/to thememory portion. Incidentally, it is also possible to use, as the paperwith non-contact IC chip, the paper 401 to which the non-contact IC chip402 has been adhered.

Subsequently, the operation in the copy mode in which the IC chipwriting mode of the digital copying machine 101 is designated will beexplained with reference to FIGS. 5, 6 and 7. More specifically, FIG. 5is the flow chart showing the control procedure of the copy mode inwhich the IC chip writing mode of the digital copying machine 101 shownin FIG. 1 is designated, FIG. 6 is the diagram showing an example of theIC chip writing priority mode selection screen (also called the IC chipwriting mode designation screen hereinafter) to be displayed on thetouch panel 316 of the operation unit 102 shown in FIG. 1, and FIG. 7 isthe diagram showing an example of the faulty IC chip paper dischargedestination tray selection screen to be displayed when the IC chipwriting priority mode is selected on the IC chip writing priority modeselection screen shown in FIG. 6. Here, it should be noted that thecontrol procedure shown in the flow chart of FIG. 5 is executed by theCPU 108 a of the control unit 108.

In the copy mode, the digital copying machine 101 according to thepresent embodiment can designate the IC chip writing mode. Morespecifically, if the IC chip writing mode is designated, the informationis written to the non-contact IC chip on the fed paper by the IC chipreader/writer 109, and, after then, either the IC chip writing prioritymode or the speed priority mode is executed according to the setting bythe user.

In the case where the IC chip writing priority mode is being set, theimage formation is controlled according to whether or not theinformation writing to the non-contact IC chip succeeded. Morespecifically, if the information writing to the non-contact IC chipsucceeded, the image is formed on the fed paper, and the paper on whichthe image has been formed is transported to the designated paperdischarge tray. On the contrary, if the information writing to thenon-contact IC chip did not succeed, any image is not formed on the fedpaper, and the paper on which the image is not formed is transported tothe discharge destination tray different from the paper discharge traywith respect to which the information writing to the non-contact IC chipsucceeded is discharged.

In the meanwhile, in the case where the speed priority mode is beingset, the image is formed on the fed paper irrespective of whether or notthe information writing to the non-contact IC chip succeeded. Then, thepaper on which the image has been formed is discharged to the designatedpaper discharge tray.

Incidentally, if the IC chip writing mode is designated, the paper withnon-contact IC chip is used as the paper under normal conditions.However, for example, if the non-contact IC chip which has been embeddedin (or adhered to) the paper is faulty or defective, if the non-contactIC chip is damaged while the paper is transported up to the registrationrollers 223, or the like, the information writing to the non-contact ICchip did not succeed. For this reason, the fed paper on which the imageis not formed is discharged. Moreover, if the ordinary paper (that is,the paper on which there is no non-contact IC chip) is erroneously fed,the information writing to the non-contact IC chip did not succeed withrespect to the ordinary paper. Thus, also in that case, the fed ordinarypaper on which the image is not formed is discharged.

On the other hand, if the IC chip writing mode is not designated, thenormal copy mode is executed. In the normal copy mode, the imageformation is executed to the fed paper irrespective of whether the fedpaper is the paper with non-contact IC chip or the ordinary paper (thatis, the paper on which there is no non-contact IC chip), whereby theinformation writing to the non-contact IC chip is not executed to thepaper. In any case, since the operation in the normal copy mode is wellknown, the explanation thereof will be omitted.

In the case where the IC chip writing mode is designated by the userthrough the operation unit 102, for example, the IC chip writing modedesignation screen as shown in FIG. 6 is displayed on the touch panel316. More specifically, on the IC chip writing mode designation screen,a button 601 which is depressed to select and designate the IC chipwriting priority mode and a button 602 which is depressed to select anddesignate the speed priority mode are displayed. Here, it should benoted that such mode selection by the buttons 601 and 602 is executedexclusively. More specifically, the IC chip writing priority mode isselected and set if the button 601 is depressed, while the speedpriority mode is selected and set if the button 602 is depressed. Then,the set mode is stored in the SRAM 108 d of the control unit 108.

If the IC chip writing priority mode is selected on the IC chip writingmode designation screen, for example, the faulty IC chip paper dischargedestination tray selection screen as shown in FIG. 7 is displayed on thetouch panel 316. Here, it should be noted that the faulty IC chip paperdischarge destination tray selection screen is the screen which is usedto select the tray (also called the faulty IC chip paper dischargedestination tray) to which the paper on which the information writing tothe non-contact IC chip did not succeed should be discharged. On thefaulty IC chip paper discharge destination tray selection screen, pluralbuttons 701, 702, 703 and 704 which are used to respectively designatethe faulty IC chip paper discharge destination trays are displayed. Forexample, if the button 703 is depressed, the tray C is selected and setas the faulty IC chip paper discharge destination tray, and the set trayC is stored in the SRAM 108 d as the selected faulty IC chip paperdischarge destination tray. Here, it should be noted that it isimpossible to set the faulty IC chip paper discharge destination trayshown in FIG. 7 to be the same as the paper discharge destination usedin the copy job.

In any case, the user designates the IC chip writing mode, executes thevarious settings necessary in the copy mode, sets the originals to thedocument feeder 201, and then depresses the copy start key 306. Thus,the operation in the copy mode starts.

In the copy mode, as shown in FIG. 5, it is controlled by the controlunit 108 to start to read the original (step S501). Then, if the readingof the original starts, the set originals are sequentially fed one byone from the document feeder 201 onto the platen glass 202, and theimage on the fed original is read by the reader unit 103. The image datais then stored in the hard disk 107 in due order every time the originalis read.

Subsequently, the control unit 108 waits for until the image data of onepage to be next output is stored in the hard disk 107 (step S502). Atfirst, the image data of the first page is stored. Then, if the imagedata of the one page to be next output is stored in the hard disk 107,the image data is output from the hard disk 107 to the printer unit 104through the control unit 108. In the printer unit 104, the latent imagebased on the relevant image data is formed on the photosensitive drum211, and the formed latent image is visualized as the toner imagethrough the developing process.

Moreover, if the image data of the one page to be next output is storedin the hard disk 107, it is controlled by the control unit 108 to feedthe paper from either the paper feeding cassette 213 or 214 and start totransport the fed paper (step S503). The paper fed from either the paperfeeding cassette 213 or 214 is transported toward the registrationrollers 223, and the transported paper is once stopped in the state thatthe leading edge of the paper is bumped against registration rollers223. Then, the control unit 108 controls the IC chip reader/writer 109to write the information concerning the contents (e.g., magnification,layout, original size, paper size, paper type, number of colors, etc.)set by the user to the non-contact IC chip on the paper stopped at theregistration rollers 223 (step S504).

Subsequently, the control unit 108 refers to the information in the SRAM108 d and thus judges whether the mode set through the IC chip writingmode designation screen as shown in FIG. 6 is the IC chip writingpriority mode or the speed priority mode (step S505). Then, if the ICchip writing priority mode is set, the control unit 108 controls the ICchip reader/writer 109 to read the information from the non-contact ICchip on the paper. Further, the control unit 108 judges whether or notthe information writing to the non-contact IC chip succeeded, accordingto whether or not the read information conforms to the informationindicated to be written to the non-contact IC chip in the step S504(step S506). Here, if the read information conforms to the informationindicated to be written to the non-contact IC chip, the control unit 108judges that the information writing to the non-contact IC chipsucceeded. On the contrary, if the read information does not conform tothe information indicated to be written to the non-contact IC chip, thecontrol unit 108 judges that the information writing to the non-contactIC chip did not succeed.

If it is judged that the information writing to the non-contact IC chipsucceeded, the control unit 108 controls to execute the image formation(step S507). In the control of the image formation, the control unit 108respectively controls the operation that the paper is transported to thelocation between the photosensitive drum 211 and the transfer unit 215by the registration rollers 223, the operation that the toner image onthe photosensitive drum 211 is transferred onto the paper by thetransfer unit 215, and the operation that the toner image transferredonto the paper is fixed thereto by the fixing unit 216. Here, theformation of the latent image to the photosensitive drum 211 based onthe image data, the development of the formed latent image, and the likewere already started in the predetermined timing after the time when thestorage of the image data to be output in the hard disk 107 ends in thestep S502, so as to be in time for the start timing of the process inthe step S507. Then, the control unit 108 discharges the paper to thedesignated tray (for example, the uppermost tray A in the finisher 220shown in FIG. 2) (step S508).

Subsequently, the control unit 108 judges whether or not the copying ofall the originals from the document feeder 201 ends (step S511). If thecopying of all the originals does not end, the flow returns to the stepS502. On the contrary, if the copying of all the originals ends, theprocess in the copy mode ends.

Incidentally, if it is judged in the step S506 that the informationwriting to the non-contact IC chip failed, the control unit 108 stopsthe image formation (step S509). Here, the toner image (that is, thetoner itself) formed on the photosensitive drum 211 is collected by thecleaner 222, and the paper is then transported to the location betweenthe photosensitive drum 211 and the transfer unit 215 by theregistration rollers 223. Thus, any toner image is not transferred tothe paper, and the relevant paper is transported to the finisher throughthe fixing unit 216. Then, the control unit 108 controls the finisher220 so as to discharge the paper to the tray (for example, the lowermosttray C in the finisher 220 shown in FIG. 2) designated as the faulty ICchip paper discharge destination tray by using the faulty IC chip paperdischarge destination tray selection screen shown in FIG. 7 (step S510).Here, it should be noted that the paper on which the information writingto the non-contact IC chip failed might include the ordinary paper.

Subsequently, the flow returns to the step S503 to feed a new paper.Then, the control unit 108 controls to repeat the processes in the stepS503, S506, S509 and S510 until the information writing to thenon-contact IC chip on the newly fed paper succeeds. That is, theformation of the same toner image to the photosensitive drum 211 and thecollection of the toner of the toner image are repeated until theinformation writing to the non-contact IC chip on the newly fed papersucceeds.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, the papers onwhich the writing of the information to the non-contact IC chipsucceeded and the papers on which the writing of the information to thenon-contact IC chip failed are independently output respectively to thecorresponding trays, whereby the user can easily acquire only the paperson which the writing of the information to the non-contact IC chipsucceeded without sorting the output papers. As a result, theconvenience to the user improves.

Incidentally, in the present embodiment, to avoid that the image isunnecessarily formed on the paper, both the writing of the informationto the non-contact IC chip 402 and the confirmation of the writteninformation are executed before the image formation is executed.However, it is also possible to execute the writing of the informationto the non-contact IC chip and the confirmation of the writteninformation after the image formation on the paper. Besides, it isfurther possible to execute the writing of the information to thenon-contact IC chip before the image formation on the paper and executethe confirmation of the written information after the image formation onthe paper. In that case, a further IC chip reader/writer is added andprovided at an appropriate location on the paper transportation pathbetween the transfer unit 215 and the discharge rollers 217 of the imageforming device (that is, the downstream side of the IC chipreader/writer 109 on the paper transportation path), the informationwriting is executed by the IC chip reader/writer 109, and theinformation reading is executed by the further added IC chipreader/writer.

Moreover, in the present embodiment, the faulty IC chip paper dischargedestination tray is selected by using the faulty IC chip paper dischargedestination tray selection screen. However, the control unit 108 mayautomatically select the free (vacant) tray as the faulty IC chip paperdischarge destination tray. In that case, it is possible to prevent thatthe paper on which the writing of the information to the non-contact ICchip failed mixes with the papers output in another job or the like.

In addition, the escape tray 224 may be selected as the faulty IC chippaper discharge destination tray. In the case where the escape tray 224is selected, the paper on which the writing of the information to thenon-contact IC chip failed is transported to the escape tray 224 bycontrolling a not-shown flapper provided between the registration rollerand the transfer unit. Thus, it is possible to discharge the paperwithout passing it through the fixing unit, whereby the transportedpaper is not damaged. Consequently, the paper discharged to the escapetray can be again used for, for example, the image formation in whichthe IC chip writing mode is not designated, as maintaining the samedegree of quality as unused.

Second Embodiment

Subsequently, the second embodiment of the present invention will beexplained with reference to FIGS. 8 and 9. FIGS. 8 and 9 are the flowcharts showing the control procedure of the double-sided copy mode inwhich the IC chip writing mode in the image forming device according tothe second embodiment of the present invention is designated.

In the above first embodiment, the control to be executed in theinformation writing to the non-contact IC chip on the paper in thesingle-sided copy mode is explained. Meanwhile, in the presentembodiment, the control to be executed in the information writing to thenon-contact IC chip on the paper in the double-sided copy mode will beexplained. Here, it should be noted that the configuration described inthe present embodiment is the same as that described in the firstembodiment, whereby the explanation thereof will be omitted.

In the double-sided copy mode according to the present embodiment,unlike the first embodiment, it is impossible to select either one ofthe IC chip writing priority mode and the speed priority mode, that is,the IC chip writing priority mode is automatically set.

In the double-sided copy mode according to the present embodiment, asshown in FIG. 8, it is controlled by the control unit 108 to start toread the original (step S801). Then, the control unit 108 waits foruntil the image data of one page to be next output is stored in the harddisk 107 (step S802). If the image data of the one page to be nextoutput is stored in the hard disk 107, it is judged by the control unit108 whether or not the image data is the image data corresponding to thesecond face of the paper (step S803). If it is judged that the imagedata is not the image data corresponding to the second face of thepaper, it is controlled by the control unit 108 to feed the paper fromeither the paper feeding cassette 213 or 214 and start to transport thefed paper (step S804). The paper fed from either the paper feedingcassette 213 or 214 is transported and once stopped at the registrationrollers 223. Then, the control unit 108 controls the IC chipreader/writer 109 to write the designated information to the non-contactIC chip on the paper stopped at the registration rollers 223 (stepS805).

Subsequently, the control unit 108 controls the IC chip reader/writer109 to read the information from the non-contact IC chip on the paper.Further, the control unit 108 judges whether or not the informationwriting to the non-contact IC chip succeeded, according to whether ornot the read information conforms to the information indicated to bewritten to the non-contact IC chip in the step S805 (step S806). Here,if it is judged that the information writing to the non-contact IC chipdid not succeed, the control unit 108 further judges whether or not toexecute the image formation on the first face of the paper (step S807).In that case, the image formation is executed to the first face of thepaper, the control unit 108 controls to execute the image formation(step S808). On the contrary, if it is judged that the informationwriting to the non-contact IC chip succeeded, as well as above, thecontrol unit 108 controls to execute the image formation (step S808).That is, in the case where the image formation on the first face of thepaper is executed, the image formation is executed irrespective ofwhether the information writing to the non-contact IC chip succeeded orfailed.

In the above image formation, the operation of transporting the paper tothe location between the photosensitive drum 211 and the transfer unit215 by the registration rollers 223, the operation of transferring thetoner image on the photosensitive drum 211 onto the paper by thetransfer unit 215, and the operation of fixing the transferred tonerimage onto the paper by the fixing unit 216 are executed.

Subsequently, the control unit 108 judges whether or not the above imageformation is the image formation on the first face of the paper (stepS809). If it is judged that the above image formation is the imageformation on the first face of the paper, the control unit 108 controlsto guide the paper to the paper re-feeding transportation path 219 andinvert the image formation face of the guided paper (step S810). Then,the flow returns to the step S802 to execute the same procedure as thatfor the image formation on the first face of the paper so as to executethe image formation on the second face of the paper. Here, since it isjudged that the image data to be next output is the image data formed onthe second face of the paper (step S803), the control unit 108 controlsto start to transport the paper on the paper re-feeding transportationpath 219 (step S811). That is, the paper is transported from the paperre-feeding transportation path 219 to the registration rollers 223, andthe transported paper is once stopped at the registration rollers 223.

Next, the control unit 108 judges whether or not the information writingto the non-contact IC chip succeeded at the time of the image formationto the first face of the paper (step S812). If it is judged that theinformation writing to the non-contact IC chip succeeded at the time ofthe image formation to the first face of the paper, the control unit 108controls to feed the paper from the registration rollers 223 and executethe image formation (that is, the transfer of the toner image) to thesecond face of the fed paper (step S808). Then, the control unit 108judges that the above image formation is not the image formation on thefirst face of the paper, that is, the control unit 108 judges that theabove image formation is the image formation on the second face of thepaper (step S809). Subsequently, the control unit 108 controls todischarge the paper of which both the faces have been subjected to theimage formation to the designated tray (for example, the uppermost trayA in the finisher 220 shown in FIG. 2)(step S813).

Next, the control unit 108 judges whether or not the double-sidedcopying of all the originals from the document feeder 201 ends (stepS814). If the double-sided copying of all the originals does not end,the flow returns to the step S802. On the contrary, if the double-sidedcopying of all the originals ends, the process in the copy mode ends.

Meanwhile, if it is judged in the step S812 that the information writingto the non-contact IC chip did not succeed at the time of the imageformation to the first face of the paper, the control unit 108 controlsthe IC chip reader/writer 109 to write the information to thenon-contact IC chip on the paper transported from the paper re-feedingtransportation path 219 (step S805). Then, if it is judged that theinformation writing to the non-contact IC chip on the paper transportedfrom the paper re-feeding transportation path 219 succeeded (step S807),the control unit 108 controls to execute the image formation on thesecond face of the paper (step S808). Moreover, the control unit 108controls to discharge the paper of which both the faces have beensubjected to the image formation to the designated tray (for example,the uppermost tray A in the finisher 220 shown in FIG. 2) (step S813).

Incidentally, if it is judged in the step S807 that the informationwriting to the non-contact IC chip on the paper transported from thepaper re-feeding transportation path 219 failed, the control unit 108stops the image formation on the second face of the paper as shown inFIG. 9 (step S815). Here, the toner image (that is, the toner itself)formed on the photosensitive drum 211 is collected by the cleaner 222,and the paper is then transported to the location between thephotosensitive drum 211 and the transfer unit 215 by the registrationrollers 223. Thus, any toner image is not transferred to the paper, andthe relevant paper is transported to the finisher 220 through the fixingunit 216. Then, the control unit 108 controls the finisher 220 so as todischarge the paper to the tray (for example, the lowermost tray C inthe finisher 220 shown in FIG. 2) designated as the faulty IC chip paperdischarge destination tray by using the faulty IC chip paper dischargedestination tray selection screen shown in FIG. 7 (step S816). Here, itshould be noted that the paper on which the information writing to thenon-contact IC chip failed might include the ordinary paper.

Subsequently, the flow returns to the step S804 to feed a new paper.Then, the control unit 108 controls to again start the image formationfrom the first face of the paper. This is repeated until the informationwriting to the non-contact IC chip on the paper succeeds.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, in the casewhere the double-sided copying is executed, with respect to the paper onwhich the information writing to the non-contact IC chip failed at thetime of the copying on the first face thereof (including the paper fromwhich the non-contact IC chip cannot be detected), the informationwriting to the non-contact IC chip is executed at the time of thecopying on the second face thereof. Therefore, it is possible to reducethe occurrence of the papers on which the information writing to thenon-contact IC chip failed, and it is also possible to improve thethroughput of the double-sided copying.

Third Embodiment

Subsequently, the third embodiment of the present invention will beexplained with reference to FIGS. 10 and 11. FIGS. 10 and 11 are theflow charts showing the control procedure of the copy mode in which theIC chip reading mode in the image forming device according to the thirdembodiment of the present invention is designated.

In the above first and second embodiments, the information writing tothe non-contact IC chip is executed with respect to the paper, and,based on the result of the information writing, the image formation isexecuted with respect to the paper (that is, the paper with non-contactIC chip) in which the normal non-contact IC chip has been embedded.Meanwhile, in the present embodiment, the information has beenpreviously stored in the non-contact IC chip embedded in the paper, andthe relevant paper is held or set in the paper feeding cassette 213 or214. Then, the information is read from the non-contact IC chip withrespect to the paper fed from the paper feeding cassette 213 or 214,and, based on the result of the information reading, the image formationis executed with respect to the paper (that is, the paper withnon-contact IC chip) in which the normal non-contact IC chip has beenembedded. Here, it should be noted that the configuration described inthe present embodiment is the same as that described in the firstembodiment, whereby the explanation thereof will be omitted.

In the present embodiment, in the case where the copying is executed,the user first designates the IC chip reading mode and executes varioussettings in the copy mode. After then, the user actually sets theoriginal to the document feeder 201 and depresses the copy start key306, whereby the operation in the copy mode starts.

In the copy mode, as shown in FIG. 10, it is first controlled by thecontrol unit 108 to start to read the original (step S901). Then, thecontrol unit 108 waits for until the image data of one page to be nextoutput is stored in the hard disk 107 (step S902). If the image data ofthe one page to be next output is stored in the hard disk 107, thecontrol unit 108 judges whether or not the paper has been alreadyinverted (step S903). If it is judged that the paper is not invertedyet, it is controlled by the control unit 108 to feed the paper fromeither the paper feeding cassette 213 or 214 and start to transport thefed paper (step S904). The paper fed from either the paper feedingcassette 213 or 214 is transported up to the registration rollers 223,and the transported paper is once stopped in the state that the leadingedge of the paper is bumped against registration rollers 223. Then, thecontrol unit 108 controls the IC chip reader/writer 109 to read theinformation from the non-contact IC chip on the paper stopped at theregistration rollers 223 (step S905).

Next, the control unit 108 judges whether or not the information readingfrom the non-contact IC chip succeeded in the step S905 (step S906). Ifit is judged that the information reading from the non-contact IC chipsucceeded, the control unit 108 judges that the fed paper is the normalpaper with non-contact IC chip, and thus controls to execute the imageformation on the relevant paper (step S907). In the control of the imageformation, the operation of transporting the paper to the locationbetween the photosensitive drum 211 and the transfer unit 215 by theregistration rollers 223, the operation of transferring the toner imageon the photosensitive drum 211 onto the paper by the transfer unit 215,the operation of fixing the transferred toner image onto the paper bythe fixing unit 216, and the operation of transporting the papersubjected to the fixing to the finisher 220 are respectively controlled.Then, the control unit 108 controls the finisher 220 to discharge thepaper to the predetermined tray (for example, the uppermost tray A inthe finisher 220) (step S908).

Subsequently, the control unit 108 judges whether or not the copying ofall the originals fed from the document feeder 201 ends (step S909). Ifthe copying of all the originals does not end, the flow returns to thestep S902. On the contrary, if the copying of all the originals ends,the process in the copy mode ends.

Meanwhile, if it is judged in the step S906 that the information readingfrom the non-contact IC chip did not succeed, that is, if it is judgedthat the information reading failed, the control unit 108 stops theimage formation on the paper (step S911). Here, the toner image (thatis, the toner itself) formed on the photosensitive drum 211 is collectedby the cleaner 222, and the paper is then transported to the locationbetween the photosensitive drum 211 and the transfer unit 215 by theregistration rollers 223. Thus, the paper passes the fixing unit 216 inthe state that any toner image is not transferred to the relevant paper.Then, the control unit 108 judges whether or not the paper has beenalready inverted (step S912). If it is judged that the paper is notinverted yet, it is controlled by the control unit 108 to guide thepaper passed the fixing unit 216 to the paper re-feeding transportationpath 219 so as to invert it (step S913).

Subsequently, the flow returns to the step S903, and the control unit108 judges whether or not the paper has been already inverted. In thatcase, since the paper has been already inverted, it is controlled by thecontrol unit 108 to start to transport the paper guided to the paperre-feeding transportation path 219 (step S910). Thus, the paper guidedto the paper re-feeding transportation path 219 is transported towardthe registration rollers 223, and the transported paper is once stoppedat the location of the registration rollers 223. Then, the control unit108 controls the IC chip reader/writer 109 to again read the informationfrom the non-contact IC chip on the paper (step S905). Subsequently, thecontrol unit 108 judges whether or not the information reading from thenon-contact IC chip succeeded (step S906). If it is judged that theinformation reading from the non-contact IC chip succeeded, as describedabove, the control unit 108 controls to execute the image formation onthe relevant paper (step S907). Then, the image-formed paper isdischarged to the predetermined tray (step S908).

Meanwhile, if the information reading failed, the control unit 108 stopsthe image formation on the paper (step S911). That is, the toner image(that is, the toner itself) formed on the photosensitive drum 211 iscollected by the cleaner 222, and the paper is then transported to thelocation between the photosensitive drum 211 and the transfer unit 215by the registration rollers 223. Thus, the paper passes the fixing unit216 in the state that any toner image is not transferred to the relevantpaper. Here, since the paper has been already inverted (step S912), itis controlled by the control unit 108 to transport the paper to thefinisher 220. Then, for example, the control unit 108 controls thefinisher 220 so as to discharge the paper to the tray designated as thefaulty IC chip paper discharge destination tray by using the faulty ICchip paper discharge destination tray selection screen as shown in FIG.7 (step S914). Here, it should be noted that the paper on which theinformation writing to the non-contact IC chip failed might include theordinary paper.

Subsequently, the flow returns to the step S903 to feed a new paper.Then, the control unit 108 controls to again form the same image on thenewly fed paper, and this is repeated until the information reading fromthe non-contact IC chip on the paper succeeds.

As above, according to the present embodiment, if the informationreading from the non-contact IC chip fails with respect to the one faceof the paper, the relevant paper is inverted, and the informationreading from the non-contact IC chip is again executed with respect tothe other face of the relevant paper. Therefore, it is possible toreduce the occurrence of the papers on which the information readingfrom the non-contact IC chip failed. In particular, if the directionalnon-contact IC chips are added to both the faces of the paper, thepresent embodiment is effective for the relevant paper.

In the present embodiment, the principle of the present invention isapplied to the double-sided copying. However, the principle of thepresent invention can be also applied to the single-sided copying as inthe first embodiment. In any case, when the principle of the presentinvention is applied to the single-sided copying, if the informationreading from the non-contact IC chip cannot be executed, the imageformation is not executed, and the relevant paper is discharged to thefaulty IC chip paper discharge destination tray set through the screenshown in FIG. 7.

In the present embodiment, the information reading from the non-contactIC chip is explained. However, even in the case where the information iswritten to the non-contact IC chip, if the information writing fails, itis possible to invert the paper and again execute the informationwriting to the non-contact IC chip on the inverted paper. In that case,if the information writing fails after the image formation in thesingle-sided copying, the information writing to the non-contact IC chipis executed without executing the image formation after the inversion ofthe paper. Moreover, in the case where the information writing succeededon the back face of the paper succeeded, if the paper is discharged asit is, the relevant paper is discharged in the inversion state that thefront and back faces of the relevant paper are opposed to those of otherimage-formed papers. For this reason, the paper on which the imageformation was executed to its back face is inverted and then discharged.

In the above first, second and third embodiments, it is controlledwhether or not to execute the image formation according to whether ornot the information writing or reading with respect to the non-contactIC chip succeeded. However, instead, it is also possible to adopt theconstitution of changing the destination to which the image-formed paper(that is, the paper on which the image formation has ended) should bedischarged, according to whether or not the information writing orreading with respect to the non-contact IC chip succeeded. That is, insuch a case, the image formation is executed to the fed paperirrespective of whether or not the information writing or reading withrespect to the non-contact IC chip succeeded. Then, the paper dischargedestination tray is changed or switched so that, from among theimage-formed papers, the papers on which the information writing orreading with respect to the non-contact IC chip succeeded and the paperson which the information writing or reading with respect to thenon-contact IC chip failed are discharged respectively to the differenttrays. Moreover, in that case, if the information writing with respectto the non-contact IC chip failed, the message indicating such a factmay be synthesized as an additional image to the image to be essentiallyformed. For example, as such messages, “THERE IS A POSSIBILITY THATNON-CONTACT IC ADDED TO THIS PAPER HAS BEEN DAMAGED”, “WRITING OFINFORMATION TO NON-CONTACT IC ADDED TO THIS PAPER FAILED”, and the likecan be supposed. Incidentally, it should be noted that the aboveadditional image is previously stored in the ROM 108 c or the hard disk107 in the digital copying machine 101.

Further, in the above first, second and third embodiments, the casewhere the principle of the present invention is applied to the operationin the copy mode is explained. However, it is also possible to apply theprinciple of the present invention to the case where the image receivedthrough the facsimile, the image received through the network I/F unit106, the image stored in the hard disk 107 and the like are output bythe printer unit 104.

Furthermore, in the above first, second and third embodiments, thereader unit 103 and the printer unit 104 are controlled by the controlunit 108. Instead, the reader unit 103 and the printer unit 104 may becontrolled respectively from the PC 110 through the LAN 112.

Moreover, in the above first, second and third embodiments, theoperations are indicated from the touch panel 316 of the operation unit102. However, it is also possible to indicate the operations by theaccess from the PC 110.

Moreover, in each of the above embodiments, the laser beam printer isexplained as the printer unit (or the printer engine) by way of example.Instead, it is also possible to use the printer having the print systemother than the laser beam system. More specifically, it is possible touse the printers of an electrophotographic system (for example, an LEDsystem), a liquid crystal shutter system, an inkjet system, a thermaltransfer system, a sublimation system, and the like.

Moreover, the principle of the present invention is likewise applicableto a facsimile machine, a printer device and the like.

Incidentally, it is needless to say that the object of the presentinvention is achieved in a case where the storage medium (or therecording medium) storing (or recording) therein the program codes ofsoftware to realize the functions of the above embodiments is suppliedto a system or an apparatus, and thus the computer (or CPU, MPU) in thesystem or the apparatus reads and executes the program codes stored inthe storage medium. In that case, the program codes themselves read outof the storage medium realize the functions of the above embodiments,whereby the storage medium storing these program codes constitutes thepresent invention.

As the storage medium from which the program codes are supplied, forexample, a Floppy™ disk, a hard disk, a magnetooptical disk, a CD-ROM, aCD-R, a CD-RW, a DVD-ROM, a DVD-RAM, a DVD-RW, a DVD+RW, a magnetictape, a nonvolatile memory card, a ROM, or the like can be used. Inaddition, the program codes may be downloaded through the network.

Further, the present invention includes not only a case where thefunctions of the above embodiments are realized by executing the programcodes read by the computer, but also a case where the OS (operatingsystem) or the like running on the computer executes a part or all ofthe actual processes based on the indications of the program codes andthus the functions of the above embodiments are realized by the relevantprocesses.

Furthermore, the present invention also includes the case where, afterthe program codes read out of the storage medium are written into thememory provided on function expansion board inserted in the computer orin the function expansion unit connected to the computer, the CPU or thelike provided on the function expansion board or in the functionexpansion unit executes a part or all of the actual processes on thebasis of the instructions of the program codes, and thus the functionsof the above embodiments are realized by the relevant processes.

As described above, while the present invention has been described withreference to what is presently considered to be the preferredembodiment, it is to be understood that the present invention is notlimited to the disclosed embodiment. On the contrary, the presentinvention is intended to cover various modifications and equivalentarrangements included within the spirit and scope of the appendedclaims.

This application claims priority from Japanese Patent Application No.2004-299074 filed on Oct. 13, 2004, which is hereby incorporated byreference herein.

1-20. (canceled)
 21. An image forming device comprising: an imageforming unit adapted to execute image formation on a recording medium; areading unit adapted to be able to execute information reading in anon-contact manner from a non-contact IC chip added to the recordingmedium; and a control unit adapted to selectively execute either one ofa first mode of executing control so as to change an operation of theimage formation by the image forming unit based on whether or not theinformation reading from the non-contact IC chip by the reading unit wascorrectly executed, and a second mode of executing control so as tocause the image forming unit to execute the image formation to therecording medium to which the non-contact IC chip has been added,irrespective of whether or not the information reading from thenon-contact IC chip by the reading unit was correctly executed.
 22. Animage forming device according to claim 21, wherein, in the first mode,the control unit executes the control so as to change the operation ofthe image formation by causing to execute the image formation to therecording medium to which the non-contact IC chip has been added in thecase where the information reading from the non-contact IC chip by thereading unit was correctly executed, and by causing not to execute theimage formation to the recording medium to which the non-contact IC chiphas been added in the case where the information reading from thenon-contact IC chip by the reading unit was not correctly executed. 23.An image forming device according to claim 21, wherein, in the firstmode, the control unit executes the control so as to change theoperation of the image formation by changing a discharge destination ofthe recording medium.
 24. An image forming device according to claim 21,further comprising a selection unit adapted to select either one of thefirst mode and the second mode based on a user's instruction, whereinthe control unit controls the image forming device in the mode selectedby the selection unit.
 25. A control method for an image forming devicewhich comprises an image forming unit to execute image formation on arecording medium, the method comprising: a reading step of executinginformation reading in a non-contact manner from a non-contact IC chipadded to the recording medium; and a control step of selectivelyexecuting either one of a first mode of executing control so as tochange an operation of the image formation by the image forming unitbased on whether or not the information reading from the non-contact ICchip was correctly executed in the reading step, and a second mode ofexecuting control so as to cause the image forming unit to execute theimage formation to the recording medium to which the non-contact IC chiphas been added, irrespective of whether or not the information readingfrom the non-contact IC chip was correctly executed in the reading step.26. A computer-readable storage medium which stores therein a controlprogram for causing an image forming device to execute a control methodfor the image forming device which comprises an image forming unit toexecute image formation on a recording medium, the control methodcomprising: a reading step of executing information reading in anon-contact manner from a non-contact IC chip added to the recordingmedium; and a control step of selectively executing either one of afirst mode of executing control so as to change an operation of theimage formation by the image forming unit based on whether or not theinformation reading from the non-contact IC chip was correctly executedin the reading step, and a second mode of executing control so as tocause the image forming unit to execute the image formation to therecording medium to which the non-contact IC chip has been added,irrespective of whether or not the information reading from thenon-contact IC chip was correctly executed in the reading step.